By Ms Puspa Sivan Consultant and Training Specialist ...
Transcript of By Ms Puspa Sivan Consultant and Training Specialist ...
By Ms Puspa SivanConsultant and Training Specialist
(Early Childhood and Special Education)
All The Flowers OF All The Tomorrows Are In The
Seeds of Today
Educating and caring for young children is
one of the most important and demanding
responsibilities that an individual can
assume.
Two profound changes over the
past several decades have
coincided to produce a
dramatically altered landscape
for early childhood policy,
service delivery and
childrearing
First, an explosion of research in the
neurobiological, behavioural, and social
sciences has led to major advances in
understanding the conditions that influence
whether children get off to a promising or a
worrisome start in life.
Second, dramatic transformations in the
social and economic circumstances under
which families with young children are
living
The first three years of life are a time of
rapid brain development and learning
genetics food and nutrition responsiveness of parents daily experiences, physical activity and
love. giving love and nurturing providing interesting and varied everyday
experiences giving children positive and sensitive
feedback.
At birth, the human brain is still preparing
for full operation
The brain's neurons exist mostly apart from
one another
The brain's task for the first 3 years is to
establish and reinforce connections with
other neurons
These connections are formed when impulses are
sent and received between neurons. Axons send
messages and dendrites receive them. These
connections form synapses
the brain creates more synapses than it needs
the synapses that are used a lot become a permanent part of the brain
the synapses that are not used frequently are eliminated
This is where experience plays an important role in wiring a young child's brain
Because we want children to succeed, we need to provide many positive social and learning opportunities so that the synapses associated with these experiences become permanent
Young Children are not open or available to learning
opportunities unless their emotional needs are met
Longitudinal studies confirm that the
effects of early secure attachment in
children are significant and long lasting.
With the cutting of the umbilical cord, physical attachment to our mother ends and psychological attachment begins. Children come into the world equipped to form relationships.
While the first attachment provides all we need to thrive in our mother’ s womb, psychological research shows that the second attachment constitutes the foundation for human beings to thrive in the world
Attachment is the cornerstone of infant development:
• about relationships, how they are formed, what happens during the first intimate relationship with the nurturing adult, and what consequences are for later development.
• close attachment relationship between responsive caregiver and dependent infant –seen as an adaptation needed for infant’s survival
Caring for infants and toddlers is mostly about building relationships and making the most of everyday routines and experiences.
Implications of Brain Research-Emotional Needs of Children
Early nurturing experiences such as holding, feeding
and comforting impact the way a baby’s brain
develops
feel safe and feel secured
build trust and confidence
Empathy and prosocial behavior
sense of self
ability to interact (ask and express)
ability to make friends (sharing, turn taking)
Ability to negotiate
Physical Development
“Babies do not gain knowledge or insight by sitting back and
contemplating what might happen. Instead, they look, taste,
smell, hear, feel, and act…….Through sensing and acting, infants,
toddlers build intelligence” Schickedanz (1998)
stage of exploration
stage of curiosity
stage of discovery
use of the senses
use of their motor abilities
For a young child’s brain to thrive, the child
needs to be loved, held, talked to, read to
and allowed to explore.
Zone of proximal development
Child’s level of performance
Child’s level of performance with assistance
Scaffolding
Place the child in the context of language
Bring child’s thinking/performance to a higher level
Engage the mind of the child
Materials. Without spending great amounts of money,
teachers can organize wonderful collections of resource
materials that might be bought, found, or recycled.
These materials can include paper goods of all kinds;
writing and drawing tools; materials for constructions
and collages, such as buttons, stones, shells, beads, and
seeds; and sculpting materials, such as play dough,
goop, clay, and shaving cream. These materials are used
most productively and imaginatively by children when
they themselves have helped select, organize, sort, and
arrange them.
There is an interplay between nature and nurture
Early care has decisive and long lasting effects on
how children children develop, learn, cope with
stress and regulate their emotions
the human brain has remarkable capacity to change
but timing is crucial
Negative experiences or the absence of appropriate
stimulation are more likely to have serious and
sustained effects
Positive and effective caregiving skills will promote positive
development in children 0-3
Understand the child’s natural routines and moods (hold,
touch, comfort and play when he wants, when he wants to
rest let him rest)
Develop warm loving relationships which show
how much you care, value who he is and make
the child safe and secure
Understand that each child is different and
special
From infancy on, talk, sing and read to the
child. Early language development is the key to
school success. Limit television
Keep to routines and rituals to help the child
know what to expect
All The Flowers OF All The Tomorrows Are In The
Seeds of Today
quarterly
Magazine
mobile apponline portal
ecda.gov.sg/growatbeanstalk